UNDP Refurbishes UL Legal Aid Clinic

As part of support to institutions in Liberia, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) presented $30,000.00 (thirty thousand United States dollars) worth of equipment to the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia for the refurbishing of the Legal Aid Clinic of the Law school.

The Legal Aid Clinic is aimed at strengthening clinical legal education as well as providing basic but important legal aid services and advice to socially disadvantaged groups on a wide-range of legal issues.

Also, it will afford law students the opportunity to put theory into practice at an early stage in their legal career. The legal aid clinic will be run by law students with supervision from the law faculty.

Making the presentation on behalf of UNDP, the Rule of Law Adviser of the UNDP, Mr. Maarten Barends, said he was happy to make the presentation because UNDP is in full support of the refurbishing of the Legal Aid Clinic.

“As long as we support the rule of law, we will do our best to support this project,” Mr. Barends said. Equipment presented include, a 15KVA generator, computers, an executive desk, air-conditioners, computer accessories, desktops and many others.

Mr. Barends said in addition to giving the Legal Aid Clinic a facelift, the UNDP was providing one 15KVA generator, office furniture, ICT equipment, four sets of Dell computers with accessories, laptops, a multipurpose MVP HP Color LaserJet Printer, one projector, four desktop computers with LaserJet 410A ink and a variety of stationeries to the school.

“This gesture from the UNDP to the Law School is indeed a fundamental initiative that will go a long way in alleviating some of the challenges the Law School faces,” Mr. Barends added, stating that the UNDP will work with authorities of the UL to make the Legal Aid clinic fully operational.

“The project is the beginning of many more projects the UNDP intends to provide for the University of Liberia, including the provision of support for scholarly publications, scholarships and developing platforms for seminars and dialogues for students and faculty.”

Receiving the equipment on behalf of the University, the Dean of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, Cllr. Nagbalee Warner, praised the UNDP for its continued support to strengthening institutions in Liberia, especially, institutions that are geared towards enhancing the rule of law.

“We are deeply honored by the support that UNDP has extended the Law School,” he said. “Refurbishing of our legal Aid Clinic will now afford current and incoming students the opportunity to increase their experience at the Law School in a practical way. The equipment would therefore elevate the teaching and learning experience of our faculty and students respectively.”-Press release